Investigations are overseen by Assistant Chief Tracy Fincher, which encompasses various divisions, sections, and units dedicated to investigating crimes after they happen and gathering intelligence to prevent future crimes.
Criminal Investigations Division:
The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) is responsible for providing follow-up investigations for all major crimes that occur within the City Of San Angelo.
Crimes Against Persons
Crimes Against Persons cases include all crimes affecting the safety and well-being of individuals. Investigations include offenses such as homicide, assault, robbery, kidnapping, as well as many other offenses.
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes include cases of assaultive and injurious offenses against adults. Not only do these detectives actively respond to reported offenses, but they also try to identify trends in criminal activity and work with other units and divisions. Investigators work closely with the District Attorney, County Attorney, and Crisis Intervention to enhance the probability of a criminal conviction and to protect and safeguard the victims against future violence.
Crimes Against Property
Crimes Against Property includes burglaries, thefts, criminal mischief's as well as all crimes related to fraudulent activity. Investigators have specialized training and experience in addressing the growing trend in white-collar crimes such as Identity theft, Credit/Debit Card, Insurance Fraud Forgery, and Counterfeiting.
Crimes Against Children Unit
The Crimes Against Children Unit employs detectives who specialize in investigating crimes against children. The majority of these types of crimes include Injury to a Child, Sexual Assault of a Child, and Indecency with a Child. The Child Crimes Unit works closely with the Children's Advocacy Center/Hope House and Child Protective Services to investigate these types of crimes. The Hope House assists in interviewing child victims and helps coordinate the investigation and prosecution of offenders. CPS will oftentimes receive the initial complaint and forward it to the Child Crimes Unit. CPS will also follow up on the future welfare of the child.
Pawn Shop Detail
The SAPD Pawn Shop Detail is manned by a detective who works with the local pawn shops and second-hand dealers on a daily basis to ensure compliance with local ordinances and state laws. The detective makes regular inspections of the shops and their records. The Pawn Detective assists other detectives and agencies as well as the public with the recovery of stolen property that has been sold or pawned. The department participates in the Leads-On-Line System, a national database that records all pawn transactions of participating shops and agencies. For the year beginning January 1 through December 31, 2009, this detail was successful in recovering and clearing 204 cases where the property was identified as being stolen with an estimated recovery value of $143,835.00 dollars. In doing so, this unit reviewed 53,345 pawnshop transactions.
Crime Scene Investigations Unit
The Crime Scene Investigations Unit (CSI) consists of a civilian supervisor and investigators. The unit works together with Patrol, Narcotics, and CID to photograph, document, and collect evidence and latent fingerprints. The unit uses the Automated Fingerprint Identification and Extraction Program (AFIX) to help identify unknown fingerprints and palm prints found at crime scenes. Members of the unit have been trained in photography, the development and photography of latent prints, crime scene search, the identification and classification of fingerprints, courtroom testimony, analysis and enhancement of video evidence, and bloodstain pattern analysis. Members of the unit are fingerprint experts and can testify in court as such.
Evidence and Property Unit
The Evidence and Property Unit consists of civilian evidence technicians trained in the handling, packaging, storage, and procedures relating to evidence and disposition of personal property. This unit is dedicated to the ethical and legal handling of all items turned in. This is achieved through strict adherence to federal, state, and local guidelines. In 2020, the Evidence and Property Unit accepted 8,599 items.
If you have an inquiry concerning lost property, seized property, or evidence from an investigation, contact an evidence technician at 325-657-4379. Appointments are required in advance in order to allow time to pull the items and complete the necessary paperwork. Appointments are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Items that are ready for release will be held for 90 days after the date of notification. After 90 days, the property will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of according to the applicable state and federal laws. Owners who reside outside the city limits may contact our office to make special arrangements. Some items require proof of ownership, and all releases require a valid government-issued picture ID. Items will only be released to the individual named in the notification letter. All firearms transactions must be cleared through a background check
prior to release.
Polygraph Services Unit
Polygraph Services is a support service within the Criminal Investigations Division. The San Angelo Police Department uses the polygraph within the investigative boundaries of criminal investigations in order to detect deception. Polygraph is also used by the SAPD during intensive background investigations of prospective employees. SAPD polygraph examiners, certified and licensed by the State of Texas Polygraph Examiners Board scheduled 121 investigative and 59 pre-employment polygraph examinations. Approximately 50.69% of those showed no deception and 36.11% showed deception. Another 4.17% were inconclusive or the examiner was unable to form a professional opinion.
Operations Support:
SWAT and CNT
The SWAT Team (Special Weapons and Tactics) and CNT Team (Crisis Negotiations Team) work together as one unit to handle high-risk enforcement situations such as hostage situations, suicidal subjects, and high-risk search warrants. The goal of both teams is always the protection of life.
The SWAT team is a part-time unit comprised of officers from various divisions and sections of the department. Several have prior military experience and each brings a variety of talents to the unit. SWAT members are on call 24/7 are maintain the highest level of physical fitness. Training for the unit is held twice monthly and consists of physical shooting scenarios, dynamic entries, building clearings, and tactical weapons education. Members practice and prepare for a variety of possible incident scenarios and co-train with members of the Hostage Negotiations Team.
The Crisis Negotiations Team (C.N.T.) is a part-time unit made up of 8 Officers and a psychologist. The Officers come from various divisions and sections of the department. They perform C.N.T. activities in addition to the regular duties of their respective assignments. Each member is a volunteer and receives specialized training to be qualified as a Negotiator. Currently all San Angelo Police Department C.N.T. members are trained to the Advance Level in Crisis Negotiations. C.N.T. members receive 40 hours of negotiation specific training yearly as well as all other training required as a peace officer.
C.N.T. responds with SWAT when called for barricaded subjects as well as any situation which may involve hostages. Upon arrival, the C.N.T. will make contact with the subject in an attempt to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution. C.N.T. is specially equipped to negotiate by phone or when necessary face to face.
C.N.T. has been called to such situations as armed robbers believed to be holding hostages, wanted persons who have barricaded themselves, suicidal subjects, and other persons who are in crisis and need to be taken into custody for treatment or protection and other incidents as directed by the Critical Incident Commander.
Street Crimes Division - SCD
The Street Crimes Division of the San Angelo Police Department is responsible for identifying illegal narcotics distribution sources affecting our community. Working in concert with numerous other resources in our community, the Street Crimes Division will proactively employ investigative methods that will have a positive impact on local illicit drug trafficking, drug abusers, and decrease the availability of controlled substances in San Angelo. In addition, the Street Crimes Division conducts investigations on organized crime and other vice-related crimes.
The division commander oversees the Intelligence and Crime Analysis Units.
Intelligence Unit
The Intel Unit acts as a facts clearinghouse for the department. It controls the Crime Analysis Unit.
Crime Analysis Unit
The Crime Analysis Unit is responsible for the administration, maintenance, and advancement of the San Angelo Police Department's computerized information databases and all related programs therein. In addition, the Crime Analysis Unit compiles statistical information requests for the department and the public. Another task given to the Crime Analysis Unit is the preparation of a packet that contains specifically customized statistics used in a bi-weekly "Comp-Stat" meeting; the goal of this meeting is to provide San Angelo Police Department personnel with pertinent information that will allow them to perform their duties more effectively by highlighting crime trends, repeat offenders, recent criminal activity, and intelligence. The Crime Analysis unit works closely with investigations and aids both detectives and patrol in capturing offenders.